Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva said “all 50-50s have gone against us” as he criticised referee Darren England after City’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest, a result that handed the initiative to Arsenal in the Premier League title race.
England denied City what Silva felt was a clear penalty when Erling Haaland appeared to be clipped by Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels while the hosts led 2-1 at the Etihad. A brief VAR review found no case to answer, and Elliot Anderson equalised moments later. City’s dropped points leave them seven adrift of league leaders Arsenal, who won 1-0 at Brighton, although City retain a game in hand.
Haaland had another half-shout for a penalty when he claimed his arm was tugged by Neco Williams before half-time, while Rodri went to ground under contact from Nikola Milenkovic late on.
“We’re quite used to it this season,” Silva told TNT Sports. “All the 50-50s have gone against us. It’s the reality. I’ve just watched the Erling incident. For me, it’s a penalty. Some people might argue a different opinion. What can Erling do? We’re used to it this season. We know how it works. Our job is just to be better, because we cannot control these things. What we can control is our own performances, and that is what we need to focus on.”
Pep Guardiola, while acknowledging the setback, refused to be downbeat about City’s title hopes and said the team’s focus would switch to this weekend’s FA Cup fifth-round trip to Newcastle. A five-game winning run and Arsenal’s earlier draw with Wolves had briefly put the destiny of the title in City’s hands, but the Forest result means the Gunners can wrap up their first top-flight trophy since 2004 if they win seven of their remaining eight games.
“We did everything,” Guardiola told TNT Sports. “We didn’t concede much and we had the chances at the end especially. We keep going. They tried to do the best they could – when you see how they run – but in a game at home, at this stage of the season, it’s important [to win] but we keep going and look forward, not back. Nothing to say [on the penalty shouts]. Now it’s onto Newcastle in the FA Cup, the Champions League, and game by game. We are used to playing in a lot of competitions and going from game to game. There’s a lot of games to play, we have to continue.”
Sky Sports’ Laura Hunter, at the Etihad, noted the wider implications: City’s draw ended a seven-match home winning run in all competitions and was the first time they had conceded two or more goals at the Etihad since November. City have dropped 13 points from winning positions this season — a tally uncharacteristic of reigning champions — and the manner of the Forest game raises questions about momentum and belief.
Hunter suggested small margins and refereeing decisions have played a part: had Savinho’s stoppage-time effort earlier in the season squeaked in rather than being turned off the line, or had one of Haaland’s penalty claims been awarded, the title race might look different. Before the draw, City were in a position where winning all their remaining matches, including a home game against Arsenal, would secure the crown; that luxury no longer exists, making the psychological challenge as significant as the mathematical one. Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal side will be quietly encouraged by the shift.